Zoological Parks Regulation 2025

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Name of regulation

This regulation is the Zoological Parks Regulation 2025.

2 Commencement

This regulation commences on 1 September 2025.

Note—

This regulation replaces the Zoological Parks Regulation 2019, which is repealed on 1 September 2025 by the Subordinate Legislation Act 1989, section 10(2).

3 Definitions

In this regulation—

Director means the Director of the Board.

member of staff means—

(a)  the Director, or

(b)  an employee of the Board.

the Act means the Zoological Parks Board Act 1973.

vegetation means trees, shrubs, ferns, creepers, vines, palms, plants, flowers, herbage or other vegetative cover.

zoological park land means land vested in or held by the Board on which a zoological park is established or maintained.

Note—

The Act and the Interpretation Act 1987 contain definitions and other provisions that affect the interpretation and application of this regulation.

Part 2 Entry to zoological park land

4 Entrance fees—the Act, s 30(2)(n)

(1)  The Board may—

(a)  determine the entrance fee payable by a person for zoological park land, and

(b)  determine different entrance fees having regard to matters the Board considers appropriate.

(2)  A person must not enter zoological park land without paying the entrance fee for the land.

Maximum penalty for subsection (2)—1 penalty unit.

5 Entry through visitors’ entrance—the Act, s 30(2)(c)

(1)  The Board may, by notice displayed at, or in the immediate vicinity of, an entrance to zoological park land, designate the entrance as a visitors’ entrance to the land.

(2)  A person must not enter zoological park land other than through a visitors’ entrance to the land.

Maximum penalty for subsection (2)—1 penalty unit.

6 Closure of zoological park land—the Act, s 30(2)(c) and (p)

(1)  The Board may close zoological park land by—

(a)  displaying a notice indicating the land is closed, or

Example of notice—

a notice specifying when zoological park land is open to the public

(b)  erecting a barrier indicating the land is closed, or

(c)  publishing, on a website maintained by the Board, a public notice indicating the land is closed.

(2)  If the Board closes zoological park land by publishing a notice under subsection (1)(c), the Board must, as soon as practicable, display a notice indicating the land is closed at, or in the immediate vicinity of, the land.

(3)  A person must not enter or remain on zoological park land if the person knows the land is closed.

Maximum penalty—1 penalty unit.

(4)  Subsection (3) applies whether or not a notice has been displayed in accordance with subsection (2).

(5)  A person is taken to know that zoological park land is closed if the person passes a notice or barrier indicating the land is closed.

7 Prohibited things—the Act, s 30(2)

A person must not bring the following onto zoological park land—

(a)  an animal,

(b)  a part of an animal, vegetation or other living thing that is a threat to the preservation or protection of animals or vegetation on the land,

(c)  a scooter, a skateboard, rollerskates, rollerblades or a similar device,

(d)  a motorised aircraft that is remotely piloted or controlled, including a drone, a part of the aircraft or a remote control for the aircraft,

(e)  balloons,

(f)  liquor within the meaning of the Liquor Act 2007.

Maximum penalty—1 penalty unit.

Part 3 Conduct on zoological park land

8 Obstruction of persons—the Act, s 30(2)(c) and (d)

A person must not obstruct another person on zoological park land in the other person’s exercise of a function of the Board, or of an employee of the Board, under the Act.

Maximum penalty—1 penalty unit.

9 Failure to comply with reasonable directions—the Act, s 30(2)(c) and (d)

(1)  The Board may give a reasonable direction in relation to zoological park land to a person on the land.

Example of reasonable direction—

a direction to evacuate part of zoological park land in response to a fire alarm or an emergency

(2)  A person given a direction under subsection (1) must comply with the direction.

Maximum penalty for subsection (2)—1 penalty unit.

10 Noise—the Act, s 30(2)(c), (d) and (m)

A person must not do the following on zoological park land—

(a)  operate a radio or other electronic device, or play a musical instrument, at a volume likely to—

(i)  unreasonably disturb a person on the land, or

(ii)  disturb an animal on the land,

(b)  operate a loudspeaker or public address system.

Maximum penalty—1 penalty unit.

11 Damage—the Act, s 30(2)

A person must not do the following on zoological park land—

(a)  damage or remove vegetation,

(b)  damage or remove dead timber, logs or stumps,

(c)  intentionally disturb a rock, soil, sand, a stone or a similar substance,

(d)  leave rubbish, except in a rubbish bin,

(e)  damage, remove or otherwise interfere with a building, notice or other improvement,

(f)  light a fire.

Maximum penalty—1 penalty unit.

12 Animals and animal enclosures—the Act, s 30(2)(m) and (t)

A person must not do the following on zoological park land—

(a)  feed an animal,

(b)  interfere with, capture, injure or destroy an animal,

(c)  open, enter or damage—

(i)  an animal enclosure, or

(ii)  an animal holding area, or

(iii)  another structure constructed for the purpose of, or used for, containing or keeping animals.

Maximum penalty—1 penalty unit.

13 Camping—the Act, s 30(2)(c) and (i)

(1)  A person must not do the following on zoological park land—

(a)  camp or reside,

(b)  erect or occupy, or arrange for or assist in the erection or occupation of, a building, tent, screen, awning, enclosure or other similar thing.

Maximum penalty—1 penalty unit.

(2)  The Board may direct a person who contravenes subsection (1)(b) to immediately remove the erected or occupied thing from zoological park land.

(3)  A person given a direction under subsection (2) must comply with the direction.

Maximum penalty—1 penalty unit.

14 Commercial and public activities—the Act, s 30(2)(c), (d) and (q)

(1)  A person must not do the following on zoological park land—

(a)  conduct entertainment, whether or not for profit,

(b)  sell or hire, or attempt to sell or hire, goods or services,

(c)  use the following for a commercial purpose—

(i)  audio equipment,

(ii)  broadcasting equipment,

(iii)  a camera,

(d)  display or distribute promotional material,

(e)  hold or address a public meeting, function, demonstration or other public activity.

Maximum penalty—1 penalty unit.

(2)  In this section—

entertainment includes amusement, event, promotion, instruction and performance.

15 Other activities—the Act, s 30(2)(c) and (d)

A person must not do the following on zoological park land—

(a)  use a scooter, a skateboard, rollerskates, rollerblades or a similar device,

(b)  operate a motorised aircraft that is remotely piloted or controlled, including a drone,

(c)  climb a building, fence, seat, table, enclosure or other structure,

(d)  throw or project a stone or other object,

(e)  bathe, wade, wash or swim in a lake, pond or stream or in ornamental water.

Maximum penalty—1 penalty unit.

16 Taronga “Pump” Wharf—the Act, s 30(2)(c)

(1)  A person must not—

(a)  moor a vessel to the Taronga “Pump” Wharf, being the wharf situated at Taronga Zoological Park to the east of the Taronga Zoo Ferry Wharf, or

(b)  fish from the Taronga “Pump” Wharf.

Maximum penalty—1 penalty unit.

(2)  In this section—

Taronga Zoological Park means the zoological park referred to in the Act, section 15(2)(a).

Part 4 Vehicles on zoological park land

17 Parking charges—the Act, s 30(2)(n)

(1)  The Board may—

(a)  determine the charge payable for bringing vehicles onto, or parking vehicles on, zoological park land, and

(b)  determine different charges having regard to matters the Board considers appropriate.

(2)  A person must not bring a vehicle onto, or park a vehicle on, zoological park land without paying the parking charge for the land.

Maximum penalty for subsection (2)—1 penalty unit.

18 Entry of vehicles onto zoological park land—the Act, s 30(2)(r)

(1)  The Board may control or prohibit the entry of vehicles onto zoological park land.

(2)  The Board may take action under this section by—

(a)  displaying a notice or erecting a barrier, or

(b)  giving a direction to a person in control of a vehicle.

(3)  A person must not intentionally—

(a)  fail to comply with a notice displayed or direction given to the person under subsection (2), or

(b)  disregard a barrier erected under subsection (2).

Maximum penalty for subsection (3)—1 penalty unit.

19 Regulation of vehicles on zoological park land—the Act, s 30(2)(r) and (s)

(1)  The Board may—

(a)  designate a road on zoological park land for use for driving or parking vehicles (designated road), and

(b)  regulate vehicular traffic on designated roads.

(2)  The Board may take action under this section by—

(a)  displaying a notice or erecting a barrier, or

(b)  giving a direction to a person in control of a vehicle.

(3)  A person must not—

(a)  drive or park a vehicle on zoological park land, other than on a designated road, or

(b)  otherwise intentionally—

(i)  fail to comply with a notice displayed or a direction given to the person under subsection (2), or

(ii)  disregard a barrier erected under subsection (2).

Maximum penalty for subsection (3)—1 penalty unit.

20 Removal of vehicles—the Act, s 30(2)(r)

(1)  The Board may direct a person to remove from zoological park land a vehicle that is—

(a)  unlawfully on the land, and

(b)  under the person’s control.

(2)  A person given a direction under subsection (1) must comply with the direction.

Maximum penalty for subsection (2)—1 penalty unit.

21 Shared vehicles—the Act, s 30(2)(e), (n) and (r)

(1)  The Board may determine the charge payable to travel in a vehicle operated by the Board on zoological park land (a shared vehicle).

Examples of shared vehicles—

Sky Safari cable car, Pride Lands Patrol truck

(2)  A person must not—

(a)  travel in a shared vehicle without paying the charge to travel in the vehicle, or

(b)  interfere with the operation of a shared vehicle, or

(c)  interfere with the enjoyment or comfort of other persons travelling, or waiting to travel, in a shared vehicle.

Maximum penalty—1 penalty unit.

(3)  The Board may direct a person to leave a shared vehicle if the person contravenes this section.

(4)  A person given a direction under subsection (3) must comply with the direction.

Maximum penalty—1 penalty unit.

Part 5 Miscellaneous

22 Removal of persons—the Act, s 30(2)(c)–(e)

(1)  The Board may direct a person to leave zoological park land if the person—

(a)  contravenes this regulation, or

(b)  is, or appears to be, intoxicated, or

(c)  behaves in an indecent or offensive way.

(2)  A person given a direction under subsection (1) must comply with the direction.

Maximum penalty—1 penalty unit.

(3)  The Board may remove the person from the land if the person fails to comply with the direction.

23 Exercise of Board’s functions—the Act, s 30(2)(x)

A function of the Board under this regulation may be exercised by—

(a)  the Director, or

(b)  another member of staff authorised by the Board or the Director to exercise the function.

24 No offence for certain acts or omissions

(1)  A person does not commit an offence under this regulation if the act or omission giving rise to the offence was done—

(a)  by a member of staff in the course of employment, or

(b)  under the direction, or with the consent, of the Board.

(2)  The Board may give consent generally or for a particular purpose.

25 Savings

An act, matter or thing that, immediately before the repeal of the Zoological Parks Regulation 2019, had effect under that regulation continues to have effect under this regulation.